Islam is a moderate religion, and its moderation is inferred by examining its beliefs, principles, scientific principles, morals, worship, laws, and rulings. That is, moderation is a prominent feature of everything related to the religion of Islam. the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, forbade extremism. The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, says: Beware of exaggeration in religion; For those who were before you were destroyed by extremism in religion. Therefore, the misconceptions raised about the month of Safar regarding performing prayers or certain actions is an exaggeration in religion and have no basis in Islamic law. Here are these lines to correct some misconceptions about the month of Safar and clarify some facts about the month of Safar.
What Is Safar?
The month of Safar is one of the twelve months of the Hijri calendar. It is said It was called Safar due to many reasons. Some of them said: It was called that because Mecca was deserted from its people (empty of its people) when they traveled invading or searching for food. They used to invade the tribes, and they would leave those who found zero of their belongings. Among the other reasons for naming it Safar, it was said that it is the month in which the trees whistle, and the wind whistles loudly. This month was also called Najra because the camels were dragged in it due to the intense heat.
When is Safar
Its arrangement is the second month in the Hijri calendar, which follows the month of Muharram.
The Importance of Safar
Many wonder about the importance of the month of Safar. In fact, The month of Safar is like the rest of the months, and there was no hadith or Quranic text about its distinction or superiority over other months, as mentioned in other months such as the month of Ramadan and the sacred months. But that does not mean that it has no importance, certainly not, since every day that the sun shines on a Muslim is certainly a great opportunity to work for the good and get closer to God.
The Virtues of Safar
Some people say (Safar al-Khair), so Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, may God have mercy on him, said: And some people, if they finish a specific work on the twenty-fifth day, for example, of the month of Safar, the date that and say: It ended on the twenty-fifth of the month of Safar al-Khair. This is from the point of treating heresy with heresy, and ignorance with ignorance. It is not a month of good, or bad. This is why some of the predecessors denounced someone who, if he hears an owl crowing, says: Good, God willing. It is not said to be good or bad, but they croak like the rest of the birds. (Total fatwas and letters).
Therefore, there is no evidence that there are specific virtues for the month of Safar, but we can remember it with some good events, as it is the month in which the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, married Mrs. Khadija who is the best of the women of the people of Paradise, and it is in it that Mrs. Fatima Al-Zahraa married Imam Ali, may God be pleased with him. There were also some battles that took place in the month of Safar, such as the Battle of Al-Abwa, the Battle of Bir Mauna, and others.
What to do in Safar?
You can do all righteous actions that you hope for the pleasure of God Almighty, such as prayer, fasting, alms, upholding ties of kinship, helping the needy, and supplicating what you wish, and by the way, there is no special dua for the month of Safar. Therefore, you can pray with any of the traditional supplications or any supplication that you want to draw closer to God.
Fasting in Safar
Fasting is a great act of worship that God Almighty singled out for many virtues among the acts of worship, including that fasting belongs to God Almighty and He rewards for it. It was proven in al-Bukhari (1894) and Muslim (1151) from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: Every deed of the son of Adam multiplied the good ten-fold up to seven hundred times. God Almighty said, “Except fasting, for it is for Me and I shall reward for it. He leaves his desires and food for My sake.”
Prayers in Safar
You should maintain the performance of prayer on time in the congregation in the mosque for men. Do a lot of supererogatory prayers, because this is one of the best acts of worship. In the honor hadith the prophet Muhammad may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “For you will not prostrate to God except that God will raise you one degree by it and remove one sin from you.” Narrated by Muslim.
And it was reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may God be pleased with him – that the Messenger of God – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him – said: “The five daily prayers, and one Friday to the next, are an expiation for what is between them, as long as the major sins are not committed.” Narrated by Muslim.
And on the authority of Uthman bin Affan – may God be pleased with him – he said: I heard the Messenger of God – may God’s prayers and peace be upon him – says: “There is no one who is a Muslim who is attended by a written prayer, so it is good, and it is not, and it is not, For all of time.” Narrated by Muslim So its ablution, reverence, and bowing are perfect, but it is an expiation for the sins before it, so long as the major is not committed, and that is for the whole time »narrated by Muslim.
Charity in Safar
Charity is one of the acts of worship that has a great reward. God has urged charity a lot in many verses of the Holy Qur’an and on the tongue of His Messenger Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in many hadiths.
God Almighty said: {Tell My servants who have believed to establish prayer and spend of what We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, before a day comes when there is no disgrace. And the Almighty says: {And spend in the way of God…} [Al-Baqara: 195]. Glory be to Him: {O you who have believed, spend of what We have bestowed on you} [Al-Baqara: 254]. Glory be to Him: {O you who have believed, spend of the good things you have earned} [Al-Baqara: 267].
The Messenger of God, Muhammad, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “So fear the Fire, even if it is only half a date.” he also said in the hadith of Uqbah bin Aamer, may God be pleased with him, that he said: I heard the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, say: “Every person is in the shade of his charity until it is decided between the people.” Yazid said: “Abu Murthad did not miss him on a day when he did not give something in charity, even if it was a cake or an onion. The Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, mentioned that among the seven whom God will shade in His shade on the Day when there will be no shade but His: “A man who gives alms and conceals it, so that his left-hand does not know what his right hand is giving” [in al-Saheehayn].
Misconceptions About The Month of Safar
Many people have raised misconceptions about the month of Safar, which has led to a lot of confusion among Muslims. Some even go as far as to claim that certain actions, like performing prayers or starting a business, should not be done during this month. However, the truth is that Safar is just like any other month on the Islamic calendar.
Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar, following the month of Muharram. There is no hadith or Quranic text that mentions the superiority or distinction of this month over others. This means that while Safar may not be a special month in terms of religious significance, every day that the sun shines on a Muslim is an opportunity to work for the good and get closer to God.
There are no special virtues or practices that are specific to the month of Safar. You can do all righteous actions that you hope for the pleasure of God Almighty, such as prayer, fasting, alms, upholding ties of kinship, helping the needy, and supplicating for what you wish. There is no special dua for the month of Safar, so you can pray with any of the traditional supplications or any supplication that you want to draw closer to God.
Fasting is a great act of worship that God Almighty singled out for many virtues among the acts of worship. It is a way to show devotion and leave behind worldly pleasures for the sake of God. However, there is no obligation to fast during the month of Safar. You can fast during this month as you would during any other month, but there is no special merit in doing so.
In terms of prayers, you should maintain the performance of prayer on time in the congregation in the mosque for men. Doing a lot of supererogatory prayers is also one of the best acts of worship. As the prophet Muhammad may God’s prayers and peace be upon him said, “For you will not prostrate to God except that God will raise you one degree by it and remove one sin from you.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the month of Safar is just another month on the Islamic calendar. While there are no special virtues or practices that are specific to this month, it is still an opportunity to work for the good and get closer to God. The misconceptions that people have about this month are simply exaggerations in religion and have no basis in Islamic law.
The Month of Safar FAQs
- What happened on the 28th of Safar?
The beginning of the Prophet’s illness – may God bless him and grant him peace – was on the last Monday of the month of Safar, on 28 Safar after he witnessed a funeral in Al-Baqi’. As stated by the authority of Aisha in the hadith of Ibn Majah.
Al-Habib’s illness became severe while he was in the house of Mrs. Maymoonah, may God be pleased with her, so he began to ask: “Where am I tomorrow? Where am I tomorrow? He wants Aisha’s day, so his wives allowed him to be wherever he wanted, so he was in Aisha’s house until he died with her.
- Who was born in the month of Safar?
There are no documents about the birth of certain people in the month of Safar, but there are some great events that occurred in this month
Honorable Hijrah, “Yazid bin Abi Habib said, ” the Messenger of God – may God bless him and grant him peace – left Mecca in Safar, and he came to Medina in Rabi` al-Awwal.” Ibn Ishaq narrated that the Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, left his house on the night of Friday, on the twenty-seventh of Safar of the fourteenth year of the Prophet’s mission.
- What are the misconceptions about the month of Safar?
There are some heresies and innovations that some people do in the month of Muharram, which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah.
Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Salam al-Shukairy said: The ignorant have been accustomed to writing verses of peace such as “Peace be upon Noah among the worlds” etc. on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar, then they put them in pots and drink and seek blessings from them and give them gifts because they believe that this removes evil, and this is a corrupt belief, a reprehensible pessimism, and an ugly innovation that must be denied by everyone who He sees it on his doer.